Procedimiento de Referencia
If you are considering starting therapy, we understand that you may have been thinking about this for a while now, and you may be finding it hard to take the first step. That’s why we keep the procedure very simple. You do not need a referral from a doctor. You do not need to complete a stack of paperwork. You will not be waiting for weeks or months for an appointment.
If you are seeking therapy for yourself, your child, your family, or someone you know, please follow these steps:
1.
Take a deep breath.
2.
Check your insurance. Creative Ways accepts Amerihealth, Medstar, HSCSN, DC Crime Victim's Compensation Fund, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and out-of-pocket payments. See "Payment Information" page for further details.
3.
Fill out the form below with your name, phone number, and email... or proceed to step 4.
4.
If you want to reach someone in English, call or text
Donna at 202-285-1690, or email donna@creativewaystherapy.com
5.
If you want to reach someone in Spanish, call or text
Teresa at 202-413-7837, or email at teresa@creativewaystherapy.com
6.
Leave a message! We do not return missed calls! Donna or Teresa will return your call, text, or email within 3 business days.
7.
Donna or Teresa will talk with your briefly, and then schedule an intake appointment. We try our best to conduct the intake within one week of your initial contact. Sometimes schedules do not allow for this.
8.
Come to your scheduled intake appointment (or log on if it is a telemental health appointment... you will receive a Zoom link ahead of time.) If you can not make your appointment, or if you are running late, please let us know.
9.
The intake appointment will take about an hour. We will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, and talk a bit about your family history and your mental health history. During the intake, you can ask any questions you may have.
10.
At the end of the intake, you will decide if you'd like to begin therapy at Creative Ways. If so, you will be asked to sign (or verbally consent to) two forms; one is your consent to treatment and the other gathers demographic information necessary for billing purposes.
11.
Following the intake, Teresa and Donna will consider which of Creative Ways' therapists may be a good match to work with you and/or your child. We will make every effort to connect you with a therapist within one week of the intake appointment. Sometimes schedules do not allow for this.
12.
Your therapist will reach out to you to schedule your first appointment . . . and so starts your therapeutic journey!
This message will be sent to us via email. Please note that email is not secure even when encrypted. Creative Ways Therapy's policy is that email is for simple communications only such as verifying availability. Please do not send or expect lengthy emails with personal or clinical content. If you do so, you are accepting any privacy risks. By sending an email through this portal, you agree to have someone from our team follow up with you via the email or phone number you've provided.
If this is an emergency or crisis that requires immediate attention, call 988. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm, call the 24/7 suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
​
